Compare towns
Charlestown vs Exeter vs Killingly vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the oldest population (median age 53.3).
Exeter has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Charlestown | Exeter | Killingly | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,051 |
7,195Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 53.3±2.1Highest 37% above U.S. |
37.7±5.9 3% below U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Killingly and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,404±$10k 36% above U.S. |
$111,250±$30kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $525,500±$57kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,374±$134Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,317±$307 7% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,365Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,881Highest 89% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charlestown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #10 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #136 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Chariho | Exeter-West Greenwich | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Killingly High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.